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CHECKMATE 

By 

SIDNEY McELROY 



SYNOPSIS 



Alice Hunter, the beautiful young daughter of 
John Hunter, has just left finishing school and has 
taken a course in teaching. Alice is now ready to 
take a position as governess in order to earn her 
living, and old John Hunter, who has worked for 
a number of years as confidential clerk for Mrs. 
Edith Emerson, in the care of her late husband's 
large estate, determines to use his influence with 
Mrs. Emerson to secure Alice the position of gov- 
erness for Mrs. Emerson's 7-year-old son, Bobby. 

Hunter, at Mrs. Emerson's next call at her of- 
fice, broaches the subject of his daughter's desire 
for the position and Mrs. Emerson being in need 
of a governess, she agrees to see Alice and talk the 
matter over. Accordingly, Alice goes to Mrs. 
Emerson's Riverside Drive residence, and Mrs. 
Emerson interviews her. Impressed by Alice's air 
of refinement and charm of manner, Mrs, Emerson 
decides to give the girl a trial, especially as Bobby, 
who enters the room toward the close of the in- 
terview, seems to be much taken with Alice. The 
boy, while not an invalid, is not over strong and 
requires care, especially as to his diet. 

COPYRIGHT 1920 BY B. B. FEATURES 
STANDARD PRINTING CO.. PRINTERS, LOS ANGELES 



2 Checkmate 

There is one friend of the Hunters who is sorry 
to see Ahce leave and take her place in the outside 
world, and that is Lawrence Martin, a struggling 
young architect, who is very much in love with 
Alice, but the latter refuses to think of him as any- 
thing but a good friend. In due time Alice takes 
up her duties in Mrs. Emerson's household and 
she has the satisfaction of making good in her posi- 
tion from the start, and it is not long before little 
Bobby fairly adores her. There is another member 
of Mrs. Emerson's family living in the house, to 
whom Alice takes an almost instant aversion. This 
is Frank Temple, Mrs. Emerson's younger brother, 
who is a ne'er do well living off his sister and bor- 
rowing money from her whenever possible, in order 
to eke out that living which his shady stock mar- 
ket transactions fail to supply. From the start 
Temple is much fascinated by the beautiful young 
governess (Alice) and loses no chance to force his 
unwelcome and questionable attentions on her, in 
a patronizing and clandestine sort of way. 

Mrs. Emerson, who is a fascinating, capable wom- 
an of the world, transacts all the business of her 
late husband's large estate with the sole aid of John 
Hunter, who acts as her clerk and attends to the 
mere routine work of the office. Although largely 
endowed with this world's goods, and with a greater 
than ordinary share of fascination and will powfer, 
nevertheless, Mrs. Emerson's life is empty on one 
account. She is deeply and passionately in love 
with John Bradford, a successful young attorney, 
several years her junior. Whilst Bradford likes 
Mrs. Emerson well enough and is flattered by her 

©Ci.A5617 21 



Checkmate 3 

attentions, nevertheless, she has never been able 
to create in him the feeling she desires, and as she 
is a v^oman used to having her own way she de- 
termines to leave nothing undone to awaken in him 
a mutual sentiment. 

It is during an afternoon tea and musicale given 
by Mrs. Emerson at her residence that Alice and 
Bradford first meet. The pianist, who is to play 
at the musicale, disappoints Mrs. Emerson at the 
last moment and knowing Alice to be an accom- 
plished musician, Mrs. Emerson, in her extremity, 
calls on her to render some selections and to accom- 
pany several of the guests in their songs. Bradford, 
who is present, and who is rather bored at the pros- 
pect of the entertainment, notices Alice at the piano 
and is instantly struck by the girl's great charm 
and beauty. On inquiring of Mrs. Emerson who 
the girl is, Bradford is coldly informed that she is 
only the new governess, and being tactful, Bradford 
lets the matter drop. He is by no means satisfied, 
however, and he determines to meet Alice. Wan- 
dering into the refreshment room, he comes across 
Mrs. Galway, a good-natured, middle-aged, nouveau 
riche widow, who is a mutual acquaintance of both 
Mrs. Emerson and himself. Mrs. Galway, who is 
"fair, fat and forty,"' overdressed and over-jeweled, 
is extra fond of the good things of this life and can 
always be relied on to be wherever the refreshments 
are. At present she is engaged not only in the 
pastime of stuffing herself with dainties, but on 
account of her weakness having peculiar ideas on 
the upbringing of children, she is also stuffing little 
Bobby with all the cakes and candies his heart de- 



4 Checkmate 

sires. Bobby, on account of Alice's being at the piano 
and Mrs. Emerson's being busy with her guests, 
is for once in his life running wild, and with Mrs. 
Galway's help he is enjoying himself hugely. Brad- 
ford, who is a great favorite with Bobby and for- 
ever romping and playing with him (the boy al- 
ways calls him "Uncle Jack," altho there is no 
relationship), breaks in on their little party with 
the request that Mrs. Galway introduce him to the 
young lady at the piano. 

Mrs. Galway rather reluctantly leaves the re- 
freshments and going to the drawing-room intro- 
duces Bradford to Alice. Struck by the girl's beauty 
at first sight, Bradford is even more captivated after 
meeting her and he hovers near Alice the remainder 
of the afternoon, turning her music and bringing 
her refreshments. In all the conscious pride of her 
social position, Mrs. Emerson refuses at first to see 
a rival in Alice, however, she is not overjoyed at 
what she observes and once during the afternoon 
she deliberately crosses the room and takes Brad- 
ford off with her. As soon as possible, however, 
without being deliberately rude to his hostess, Brad- 
ford gravitates back to Alice. 

Frank Temple arrives at the musicale rather late, 
but he considers it necessary for him to come, as he 
is endeavoring to win Mrs. Galway's debutante 
daughter, Dorothy. Things have lately been going 
father worse than usual for Temple in the financial 
line and he realizes that it is absolutely essential 
for him to make a good marriage. He is very at- 
tentive to Dorothy Galway during the remainder of 



Checkmate^ 5 

the afternoon and is much encouraged, as the girl 
does not seem to take unkindly to him. 

That evening Mrs. Emerson is extremely cold in 
her attitude toward Alice and the girl wonders if 
she has been wise in allowing Bradford to be so 
attentive to her. However, Alice has not long to 
worry about Mrs. Emerson's attitude, as Bobby's 
unwonted repast begins to take effect on the child's 
delicate constitution and he comes down during 
the night with a high fever. The next morning 
the doctor is called and the child is confined to his 
bed. Mrs. Emerson being very busy with ner social 
duties, she largely leaves the care of the sick child 
to Alice. That same afternoon Bobby, tossing on 
his bed, wants Alice to phone for his "Uncle Jack" 
(Bradford) to come and amuse him. When, in 
spite of his insistence, Alice refuses to do so, Bobby 
waits until Alice leaves the room and then stand- 
ing on a chair to reach the wall phone, he calls 
Bradford up. Telling Bradford he is sick, Bobby 
invites him to come and see him immediately. Brad- 
ford, glad of the opportunity and excuse to see 
Alice, as well as the boy, immediately leaves his 
office and goes to the Emerson home. 

During^ the several days that the sickness lasts 
Bradford calls every afternoon on Alice and Bobby, 
and as Mrs. Emerson is invariably out at social 
functions, Bradford cannot but compare Mrs. Emer- 
son's lack of consideration for the child with Alice's 
care of him, and the comparison does not redound 
much to Mrs. Emerson's credit. Meanwhile, Brad- 
ford is becoming more and more fascinated by Alice, 



6 Checkmate 

while on her part Alice is beginning to look forward 
eagerly to seeing Bradford each afternoon. 

Affairs between Alice and Bradford have reached 
this stage when Bobby recovers from his sickness. 
One afternoon shortly after, Bradford, in the hope 
of catching sight of Alice, is calling on Mrs. Emer- 
son. While Mrs. Emerson and Bradford are in the 
drawing-room, Temple enters the house somewhat 
under the influence of liquor. He does not stop, 
but goes directly upstairs and meeting Alice in the 
upper hallway, his badly concealed instincts flare 
out and he attempts to kiss her. Unable to free her- 
self from his arms, Alice calls out and Bradford, 
hearing her, rushes upstairs and, tearing Temple 
away from her, he flings him into a corner. Brad- 
ford is just taking the girl in his arms when Mrs. 
Emerson arrives at the top of the stairs and, em- 
barrassed at being found by Mrs. Emerson in such 
a position, Alice pulls away from Bradford and, 
covering her face with her hands, she runs to her 
own room. Mrs. Emerson, in order to mollify 
Bradford, pretends indignation at her brother, but 
seeing in the affair a good chance of ridding herself 
of Alice, she, that night, discharges her, altho she 
well knows Alice is in no way at fault. However, 
she feels she must separate Bradford and Alice im- 
mediately, and at any cost. 

Alice, the next day, returns to the small suburban 
cottage where her father lives, and she is not a little 
disheartened by the loss of her position and the 
fact that Bradford may have passed out of her life 
forever. Bradford, who is called away on a busi- 



Checkmate 7 

ness trip, does not get to the Emerson home again 
for several days and when he does arrive and in- 
quires for Alice, Mrs. Emerson, believing the end 
justifies the means, falsely informs him that Alice 
only took the position as governess temporarily and 
that she has left to be married. Bradford is stunned 
at the news, as he now realizes he is very much in 
love with Alice. Recalling how Alice had run away 
from him when he tried to take her in his arms 
the afternoon Temple attacked her in the hallway, 
and not suspecting Mrs. Emerson of double dealing, 
Bradford is inclined to believe what Mrs. Emerson 
tells him. 

For a number of days things run on in this un- 
satisfactory condition, and Alice is very blue and 
lonely, while Bradford is eating his heart out for 
the love of the girl. Finally little Bobby's birthday 
rolls around and Alice, in her love for the child, 
remembering the_ date, she buys him a present and 
gives it to her father to leave for the boy at the 
Emerson residence. Hunter is just coming down 
the steps of the residence after having left his pack- 
age, when he meets Bradford, who is entering the 
house on a similar errand. Bradford, who recog- 
nizes Hunter, impelled by a sudden impulse, stops 
him and requests him to present his congratulations 
to Alice on her coming marriage. Very much sur- 
prised. Hunter tells him that he has no knowledge 
of any marriage and that his daughter is not even 
engaged. Overjoyed at the news, Bradford hastily 
leaves his present for Bobby and then jumping into 
his machine he starts at full speed for the Hunter 
cottage. 



8 Checkmate 

. Arriving at the cottage, Bradford finds Alice, and 
she is much surprised and overjoyed at seeing him. 
During the course of his visit Bradford proposes 
marriage to AHce and the girl, radiantly happy and 
deeply in love, accepts him. 

Meanwhile Temple, plausible and good-mannered, 
looking for a new victim in his stock jobbing 
schemes, has taken advantage of his position as Mrs. 
Emerson's brother to sell John Hunter a large 
block of worthless mining stock. Hunter, not sus- 
pecting Temple of crookedness and inexperienced 
in stock transactions, allows Temple to sell him the 
stock ''on margin" and he invests all his life's sav- 
ings (several thousand dollars) in the worthless se- 
curities, which steadily decline in value from the 
day he buys them. 

Rumors of Alice's engagement to Bradford have 
reached the ears of Mrs. Emerson through Mrs. 
Galway, who is very fond of Alice and has always 
been very nice to her. Furious with anger and 
jealousy as a result, Mrs. Emerson is not a pleasant 
person to be in the same house with. It is at this 
stage of the game that Temple, having dissipated 
his share of the commission on the Hunter stock 
deal, goes to his sister to, borrow more money from 
her. In continued bad humor over Bradford's en- 
gagement, Mrs. Emerson reminds her brother icily 
of the amounts he already owes her and sharply 
refuses to loan him another cent. 

Hunter's worthless mining stock having now 
fallen almost to the point of his "margin," Temple 



Checkmate 9 

goes to him to raise more money, ostensibly to pro- 
tect Hunter's interest in the stock, but in reality 
to get the money for his own fraudulent use. It is 
a terrible shock to Hunter to find that his "margrin" 
has been wiped out and that he stands to lose the 
savings of a lifetime. He has no more cash to put 
up to save his stock, but desperately battling for 
time he asks Temple to give him a few hours more, 
and Temple agrees to return later that same after- 
noon. Temple, anxious to secure the money, as- 
sures Hunter that the stock is perfectly good and 
that by putting up a thousand dollars more for a 
few days he can amply protect himself. 

Having no way of borrowing the money, except 
thru Mrs. Emerson, and knowing that on Alice's 
account Mrs. Emerson would refuse him. Hunter, 
in his desperation and panic, forges Mrs. Emerson's 
name to a check for a thousand dollars, being mis- 
led by Temple's assertion that the stock is good, 
and hoping to conceal the forgery on his books, 
and to repay Mrs. Emerson before the loss is no- 
ticed. On Temple's return to the office Hunter 
hands him the check, which Temple accepts at first 
without any suspicion. He sees, however, that the 
check is dated that day and knowing his sister to 
be confined to her room in a highly nervous state 
over Bradford's engagement, he wonders how Hun- 
ter got the check. Saying nothing, however, but 
determined to investigate, he takes the check and 
leaves. 

Seeing a possible chance for his own financial ad- 
vancement. Temple goes immediately to his sister 



10 Checkmate 

and, braving her bad humor, he inquires if she has 
seen Hunter or transacted any business with him 
that day? Somewhat surprised, Mrs. Emerson re- 
plies that she has seen nobody and that she has not 
been well enough to transact any business. Tem- 
ple's next question surprises her still more, for he 
inquires what she will give him to get such a hold 
on Alice as to effectually put an end to her engage- 
ment with Bradford? 

Seeing her brother is in earnest and knowing 
that she herself has played her last card in the dis- 
missal of Alice from her employ, Mrs. Emerson 
inquires with more interest what amount her broth- 
er desires. They finally agree on two thousand dol- 
lars, and Temple turns over to her the forged check, 
explaining to her as much as he cares to of his 
stock deal with Hunter. 

Appreciating that she now holds a powerful 
weapon over the Hunters, Mrs. Emerson goes at 
once to her ofhce and confronts Hunter with the 
forgery. The old man breaks down completely, 
and under her threats he signs a full confession of 
his deed. Armed with this confession, Mrs. Emer- 
son visits Alice and she minces no words with the 
girl. Her proposition briefly is : "Give up Bradford 
or your father goes to jail," and she stipulates that 
Bradford shall be turned down in such a manner 
that he will know there is absolutely no further 
hope for him. Alice sees the forged check, and read- 
ing her father's confession, the girl faces the first 
great tragedy of her life. Realizing that Mrs. Emer- 
son will carry out her threat, Alice, in order to save 



Checkmate 11 

her beloved father, agrees to her terms, which in- 
clude the ABSOLUTE CONCEALMENT OF 
THE FORGERY FROM BRADFORD. 

That same evening, when Bradford calls, Alice 
returns his ring and breaks the engagement. Thun- 
derstruck, Bradford can get no satisfaction from 
the girl, and when he pins her down, feeling that 
she must protect her father at all cost, Alice tells 
Bradford that she no longer cares for him. The 
scene is a very painful one for them both, as they 
bid each other what they believe is their final fare- 
well. Alice's position is very distressing, as she 
strives to keep up her spirits before her father, and 
she does her best to cheer and comfort the old man, 
who is terribly broken up over his mis-step. 

Unable to withstand the temptation of catching 
a glimpse of AHce, one moonlight night about a 
week later, Bradford motors out toward the Hun- 
ter cottage and, leaving his car down the road, he 
approaches the house on foot. As Bradford stands 
concealed in the shrubbery, watching the house, 
Alice and Lawrence Martin come out of the house 
and stand on the porch talking. Martin, deeply in 
love with AHce and encouraged by Bradford's dis- 
missal, stands on the steps and taking Alice's hand 
in his he proposes to her. Bradford sees it and not 
knowing that Alice is refusing Martin as gently as 
possible, for 'in the moonlight it looks as if she 
might be accepting his attentions, it effectually 
dashes any last lingering hope of Bradford's. There- 
after Bradford gradually gravitates back to Mrs. 
Emerson and her set, as he feels that possibly Mrs. 



12 Checkmate 

Emerson may have been correct after all, about 
Alice having been engaged to another man, cer- 
tainly he has cause enough to suspect that such 
may be the case. 

Meanwhile, Alice, in her misery, as well as to 
earn her living, feels the need of occupying her 
mind with some regular duties, and she is on the 
lookout for another position as governess. Going 
over the papers in search of ads, she finds an ad 
inserted by Mrs, Galway, who has just dismissed 
an unsatisfactory governess. Appreciating that 
Mrs. Galway has always been kind to her, Alice ap- 
plies for the position and Mrs. Galway immediately 
engages her to care for her younger daughter, 
Ellen, a 10-year-old child, who is a second edition 
of Mrs. Galway, fat and roly from good eating. 
Alice finds the Galway household very different 
from Mrs. Emerson's. Mrs. Galway, a trifle vulgar, 
but without any false pride, is very good-natured 
and kind-hearted, and everybody in the household 
does pretty much as they please, including 10- 
year-old Ellen. However, as Ellen quickly grows 
to adore Alice, the latter has no trouble with her. 

Temple, who soon spends the two thousand dol- 
lars his sister paid him, and whose suit for the 
hand of Dorothy Galway is not progressing any 
too satisfactorily, is beginning to find himself short 
of funds again. His sister is none too pleased with 
the situation between herself and Bradford, as al- 
tho the latter has returned to her shrine, he is not 
doing any worshiping so far as she can see, and, 
in fact, she finds herself unable to arouse his in- 



Checkmate 13 

terest in any way. Therefore, when Temple comes 
to her to borrow more money she refuses him flatly, 
as she cannot see that the two thousand dollars she 
has already given him has brought her any ap- 
preciably nearer to winning Bradford. 

That same afternoon, at Mrs. Emerson's solici- 
tation, Bradford calls at her house to go for an 
,auto ride with her. When he arrives Mrs. Emer- 
son is not yet dressed ready to go, and Bobby, spy- 
ing Bradford, immediately makes for the drawing- 
room for a romp. At once Bobby wants to play 
some game, and to amuse the child Bradford closes 
his eyes while Bobby hides some article, and then 
when it is safely hidden Bradford uncovers his eyes 
and searches for it. Having no other article handy 
to hide, they use a pasteboard box full of cigarettes 
which Bradford takes from his pocket. The game 
progressing and Bradford finding the cigarettes 
several times, young Bobby at length determines to 
hide them where they won't be so easily discovered. 
Bidding Bradford cover his eyes once more, Bobby 
runs to the other end of the room and opening an 
antique chest used as a window seat, he shoves the 
cigarettes down among some old sofa pillows and 
other discarded trash inside the box, and then closes 
the box down again. Then calling to Bradford to 
uncover his eyes Bobby invites him to search for 
the cigarettes. While Bradford is making an un- 
successful search, Mrs. Emerson enters the room 
ready for her drive. Bradford gives up the search 
and requests from Bobby the return of the cigar- 
ettes, but Bobby replies that if his ''Uncle" wants 
the cigarettes he must first find them, and not wish- 



14 Checkmate 

ing to keep Mrs. Emerson waiting Bradford leaves 
without them. 

Later that same afternoon we find Temple at the 
Galway home, not far from the Emerson residence, 
whither he has gond^ determined to propose to 
Dorothy Galway, as his financial condition is now 
such that he feels he must put his fortune to the 
test at once. Whilst he and Dorothy are in the 
library talking, Mrs. Galway, who intends going 
out that evening to dinner and the opera, calls down 
to Dorothy to open the concealed wall safe in which 
her (Mrs. Galway's) jewels are kept, and to bring 
her up one of her jewel cases, as she desires to 
wear part of her jewels that evening. Dorothy, 
rolling back part of a dummy bookcase, exposes 
the concealed safe to view. She then opens the 
safe and taking out the case required, SHE RE- 
LOCKS THE SAFE DOOR on the remaining 
jewels. Stopping on her way out of the room, she 
exhibits some of the rare stones to Temple, and 
then excusing herself she runs upstairs with the 
case. Mrs. Galway selects the jewels she wishes 
to wear and sends Dorothy down to put the rest 
back in the safe. As Dorothy REOPENS THE 
SAFE to put back the rejected jewels. Temple, his 
cupidity aroused by the magnificence of the gems 
and his own lack of funds stands behind the girl, 
and as she turns the dial of the safe he carefully 
and surreptitiously NOTES DOWN THE COM- 
BINATION ON HIS CUFF. 

Unknown to Temple, however, his actions are 
watched by a strange pair of eyes. On her way 



Checkmate 15 

through the hallway, bringing Ellen in from her 
afternoon walk, ALICE SEES THRU THE 
PARTED PORTIERES Temple standing behind 
Dorothy and COPYING DOWN THE COMBI- 
NATION OF THE SAFE. Naturally suspicious 
of him, and not liking his action, but not knowing 
what to do about it, she passes on up the stairs en- 
tirely unobserved by Temple. 

After the jewels are locked away Temple de- 
termines to make his bid for Dorothy Galway and, 
accordingly, he asks her to be his wife. She refuses 
him and he leaves the Galway home much dis- 
gruntled and upset. He is down to nearly his last 
dollar and when Dorothy refuses him all his hopes 
go a-glimmering, and in despair he determines to 
take advantage of his knowledge of the combina- 
tion to rob Mrs. Galway's safe. Going to his sister's 
home, he makes his preparations for the robbery 
and waits until very late at night before starting 
for the Galway house, in order to give Mrs. Galway 
plenty of time to retire after returning late from 
the opera. 

Meanwhile Alice is disturbed by the remembrance 
of Temple copying the combination and she is half 
regretful that she has not notified Mrs. Galway of 
the occurrence. Upset and nervous over the whole 
affair, which she cannot understand, she spends a 
wakeful night. It is about 3 a. m. that she is 
startled by a noise downstairs. It is Temple, who 
has entered thru one of the library windows. Open- 
ing the safe, he takes the jewels from their cases 
and places them in a mound on the table. Spread- 



16 Checkmiate ^ 

ing out his handkerchief, he attempts to roll the 
jewels in it for ease of carrying. In the darkness 
and clumsy from nervousness, he ^catches a pearl 
necklace on the corner of the table and the strand 
that holds the pearls breaks, and the stones roll all 
over the table. More upset than ever, Temple 
makes a quick dash to catch the pearls before they 
roll to the floor and in his haste he knocks a large 
vase off the table and it falls to the floor with a 
crash. It is this noise that Alice hears, and hastily 
donning her kimono she starts down the stairs to 
investigate. As she creeps down the lower steps 
toward the hall she sees the gleam of a flashlight 
in the library and slipping across the hall she peers 
thru the parted portieres. Temple, his nerves badly 
shaken by the noise he has made, is hastily prepar- 
ing to leave and Alice sees that if she is to save 
the jewels she must act at once. The burglar is 
masked and in the darkness it is difficult to recog- 
nize anyone, but Alice firmly believes it is Temple. 
Running into the room, Alice throws her arms 
around him, at the same time calling out loudly to 
arouse the other members of the household. Com- 
pletely taken by surprise, it at first seems that Alice 
can hold him, but with the strength of fear Temple 
breaks away from the girl, taking the jewels done 
up in the handkerchief with him, as he slips out the 
window. In her last struggle to hold him Alice 
grips his arm, and as he pulls away his shirt sleeve 
tears and he leaves half his cuff in the girl's hand. 
Pulling herself together after the struggle, Alice 
switches on the light, and examines the cuff which 
she finds bears Temple's FIGURES OF THE 
COMBINATION OF THE SAFE. Quickly 



Checkmate 17 

thrusting the cuff into her bosom, Alice turns to 
meet the rest of the family, who, awakened by her 
cries for help, are now hastily swarming down the 
stairs. 

Pandemonium reigns in the Galway household for 
a few minutes after the robbery. Mrs. Galway pro- 
ceeds to tax the strength of the couch by fainting 
on it, but as no one pays any attention to her she 
promptly recovers. Calling to the half-awakened 
butler to bring her something to eat, Mrs. Galway 
proceeds to recoup her shattered nerves with all 
the food she can get her hands on, ludicrously sob- 
bing over her great loss between each mouthful. 
When the police come, Alice tells them her story 
of how she was awakened by a noise and came down- 
stairs to investigate— BUT SHE PURPOSELY 
REFRAINS FROM MENTIONING EITHER 
TEMPLE'S NAME OR HER SUSPICIONS OF 
HIM. 

Meanwhile, after his narrow escape. Temple slinks 
back to the Emerson residence and slips into the 
house with his latch key. His nerves are much 
shaken by his experience, and fearful of discovery 
he does not want to keep the jewels in his posses- 
sion, so immediately on entering the house he con- 
ceals them. 

Early the next morning Alice determines to take 
matters in her own hands and she calls Bradford 
on the 'phone at his apartment, soon after he is out 
of bed. She tells him where she is and that she 
must see him immediately, and he goes to her at 



18 Checkmate 

once. When Bradford arrives Alice TELLS HIM 
THE WHOLE STORY OF HER FATHER 
HAVING BECOME A FORGER, LED ON BY 
TEMPLE'S CROOKEDNESS, AND OF MRS. 
EMERSON MAKING USE OF HIS FORGERY 
TO BREAK THE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN 
THEM. SHE THEN TELLS BRADFORD THE 
STORY OF THE ROBBERY OF THE GAL- 
WAY JEWELS AND HOW SHE SAW TEM- 
PLE COPY THE COMBINATION OF THE 
SAFE BEHIND DOROTHY GALWAY'S BACK. 
SHE SHOWS HIM THE TORN CUFF, and she 
tells him she strongly believes Temple committed 
the robbery, although she could not swear to him 
in the darkness. 

Believing they have a strong case against Tem- 
ple, Bradford and Alice jump into a machine and 
speed to the Emerson residence. They are shown 
into the library, and when Mrs. Emerson appears 
she realizes almost at once there is something 
wrong. Bradford coldly informs her what brings 
them to her home and he demands to see Temple 
at once. When Temple comes down and hears what 
they have to say he determines to brazen the af- 
fair through. Bradford openly accuses him of the 
robbery and recites the case against him. Temple, 
although much frightened, pretends great indigna- 
tion and angrily denies any knowledge of the af- 
fair. As a final coup Bradford produces Temple's 
torn cuff. This last is a startling blow to Temple, 
but he weathers the storm, and Mrs. Emerson 
vehemently protests at what she calls their plot 
against her brother. 



Checkmate 19 

Meanwhile Bobby, hearing the voices, also comes 
downstairs, and from the hallway seeing his "Uncle 
Jack" (Bradford) in the library, Bobby bethinks 
him of the box of cigarettes belonging to Bradford, 
which he had hidden the afternoon before and he 
determines to get them for his uncle. Going into 
the drawing room, Bobby opens the old chest and 
starts rummaging roughly around among the dis- 
carded sofa pillows, etc., for the small box of cigar- 
ettes. 

Affairs in the library have reached the pass where 
it looks as if Temple and Mrs. Emerson will get 
away with the game. Alice is not able to swear 
Temple is the culprit, and Mrs. Emerson, in order 
to save her own name from notoriety as well as 
Temple's, is ready to testify that to her positive 
knowledge her brother was in her own home all 
the previous night. It is at this stage of the pro- 
ceedings that Bobby unexpectedly enters the room. 

As he enters the room he calls out to Bradford, 
and suddenly all eyes center on Bobby — for Bobby 
IS LITERALLY ABLAZE WITH JEWELS. 
Around his neck hangs Mrs. Galway's superb dia- 
mond necklace, and numerous other resplendent 
jewels adorn his small figure. The effect on the 
group in the library is startling. Temple crumples 
up as if shot, while Mrs. Emerson's eyes widen and 
her face blanches with terror. The effect on Alice 
and Bradford is scarcely less astounding. Dumb 
with surprise, they gaze on the boy, who quite un- 
consciously and in a flash, has solved as if by magic 



20 Checkmate 

the problem which thirty seconds ago seemed to 
them almost impossible of solution. 

The unexpected sight of the jewels is too much 
for Temple, and under Bradford's pressure he breaks 
down and confesses his crime. The remainder of 
the stolen gems are found in the old chest, still par- 
tially wrapped in Temple's handkerchief, where he 
had secreted them the night before, believing no 
one would dream of looking in an old box of trash 
for the Galway jewels. 

Turning on Mrs. Emerson, Bradford demands 
that she surrender John Hunter's signed confession 
of forgery and the forged check, under penalty of 
his turning Temple over to the police for the Gal- 
way robbery. Almost stunned by the sudden turn 
of affairs, Mrs. Emerson nevertheless realizes she 
has lost Bradford forever, and in order to protect 
herself from disgrace, she goes to her desk and, 
opening a private compartment, she takes out Hun- 
ter's confession and check and hands them to Brad- 
ford. Bidding Bobby good-bye, and taking with 
them the papers and recovered jewels, Alice and 
Bradford quit the Emerson home, leaving behind 
them a much crestfallen pair. Alice and Bradford 
immediately hurry to the Galway residence, and 
greatly to Mrs. Galway's astonishment and delight 
they return her gems to her, and the police are noti- 
fied that the jewels have been found. 

Several weeks later sees a beautiful wedding at 
the Galway home, Mrs. Galway insisting on Alice 
and Bradford being married at her residence, as a 



Checkmate 21 

slight reward for the return of her missing jewels. 
After a brief honeymoon, Alice and Bradford take 
up their happy married life in a country home and 
old John Hunter, made content once more — this 
time by a position of trust in Bradford's office, lives 
with them. 



THE END 



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1920 



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